Wave power machine

ABSTRACT

The wave force machine as such is constructed in such a way that it is capable of utilizing the upward force from the waves with (FIG.  1 ) the force from float ( 1 ) and rocker arm ( 3 ) via rocker arm pipe ( 4 ), wherein 1 or more lock bearings are provided, which transfer the upward force causing the driving force shaft ( 8 ) to rotate in the same direction. On each driving force shaft ( 8 ) may be one after the other of mounted float, rocker arm and rocker arm pipe with lock bearings after the other, and several driving force shafts (FIG.  6 ) ( 6,7,8  and  9 ) may be interconnected both horizontally and vertically to toothed wheel ( 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13  and  14 ) shown here with 4 driving force shafts, but in principle any number of shafts may be interconnected. The total force from the driving force shafts may be brought to gearbox and electric generator and used in electricity production. 3 wave force machines may e.g. be interconnected to form e.g. a star, so that the force from 3 wave force machines may be gathered in the star point, wherein gearbox and electric generator are positioned, (cf. FIG.  9 ). Alternatively, several star points are interconnected, as shown in to from e.g. a hexagon.

The present invention relates to a wave force system comprising floatson rocker arms ending in rocker arm pipes, wherein lock bearings areprovided, mounted on one or more force shafts attached to concretepillar, boat or the like and interconnected to allow the total force tobe transferred to gearbox and electric generator, for use in seas,lakes, oceans and other water reservoirs with upward and downward wavemovements, the purpose of which being that the force shaft constantlyrotates and transfers the force to gearbox and generator capable ofproducing electricity. Alternatively, the wave force machine may beequipped with blade arms FIG. 17. This model may be positioned in waterswith much current, e.g. in Lillebaelt, or in rivers or similar places.

The wave force machine comprises an electric hoist, wherein the electricmotor of the electric hoist is activated from control box, the rockerarms being raised from the water either if the wind is too strong, thewaves are too high, the water temperature is too low, the gear orgenerator temperature is too high, or during repairs of the wave forcesystem or other things, and the wave force machine interruptsproduction.

The wave force machine may be set up on concrete blocks or adjustablefeet at the bottom of the sea or may be mounted on a floating object(e.g. a boat), or the like.

In previous, known floats on rocker arms, this force was transferred tohydraulics, air pressure or filling of liquid. This invention gathersseveral floats and rocker arms and their upward force on one or moreforce shafts that is/are attached to concrete pillars, boat or the like,that rotate in the same direction as and are interconnected by means oftoothed wheels.

Machine casing with toothed wheels, gearbox, control box and electricgenerator is watertight, as are all movable parts, between rocker arms.The toothed wheels placed at the end of the driving force shafts arealso placed in a watertight casing.

According to the invention the wave force machine is characterised inthat the floats attached to the rocker arms and ending in the rocker armpipes, wherein the lock bearings are provided, are capable oftransferring the upward force from the wave to the force shaft to makethe latter turn. This downward movement is subject to free-wheeling.

The machine is constructed to be so long that it is situated over atleast 2 waves, which means that floats are moving upward all the timecausing the force shaft to rotate constantly.

The wave force machine is characterised in that one float on rocker armand rocker arm pipe with lock bearings after the other may be placed onthe same driving force shaft, and several systems of driving forceshafts may be interconnected, and since the entire machine is so longthat at least 2 wave crests are moving through the machine, this willcause the driving force shafts to rotate in the same direction all thetime.

One or more driving force shafts can be interconnected both horizontallyand vertically by means of toothed wheel on each wave force machine, andthe total force can be utilized in gearbox and electric generator (FIG.4). Four force shafts are shown in the drawing, but in principle six orany other combination of shafts can be provided.

Several wave force machines can be interconnected to form e.g. a star,in which the force shafts of the 3 wave force machines are joined ande.g. a gearbox and an electric generator are provided, or to form largerentities such as a hexagon (FIG. 20) or any other combination. By meansof such combinations, reductions can be made with respect to concretepillars, gearboxes and electric generators.

The electric hoist is also characterised in that when activated by asignal from the control box, the electric hoist can, by means of wires,raise the rocker arms from the water, a feature not seen previously, inorder that the wave force machine is not destroyed during storm, iceformation or other conditions that would otherwise destroy the waveforce machine. Simultaneously, the rocker arms can be raised from thewater and the machine will stand still during e.g. repairs or serviceinspections.

The rocker arms are mounted with balance weight, allowing the entirebuoyancy, and hence force, of the float to be utilized on the upwardrocker arm. Free-wheeling occurs on the movement of the downward rockerarm.

When several wave force machines are interconnected to form e.g. a staror e.g. larger entities such as a hexagon or any other combination, amotor declutching of each force shaft may be established in each centreof force, thus allowing the gearbox and electric generator to bedeclutched e.g. during repairs.

The wave force machine is provided with float, rocker arm and rocker armpipe (FIG. 14), wherein rocker arm pipe is constructed in such a waythat it is made up of 2 halves separable during e.g. repairs of drivingforce shaft, bearings or other things. Each bearing is also separable.

The wave force machine is constructed in such a way that one or moregear locking arms (FIG. 18) is/are provided within each rocker arm pipe,each gear locking arm being attached to driving force shaft 8. The gearlocking arms engage with gear bush 57 that is attached to the rockerpipe 3 which by means of groove with cotter 56 causes the driving forceshaft to rotate in the case of upward wave movement, free-wheelingoccurring in the case of downward movement.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with referenceto the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a top view of the wave force machine, including floats, rockerarms, rocker arm pipes, driving shafts, balance weights, bearings,toothed wheels, oiling and shaft extending to gearbox and electricgenerator.

FIG. 2 is the wave force machine seen from one end, including electrichoist, balance weight, steel wire, shock absorber, floats, rocker armsand toothed wheels.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wave force machine, including floats,rocker arms, balance weights, driving shafts, electric hoist, gearboxand electric generator.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the wave force machine, including a suggestionas to how the force from the driving shafts can be transferred togearbox and electric generator.

FIG. 5 shows rocker arm, rocker arm pipe, driving shaft, one-waybearings, bracing, adjusting nylon washers and gasket between the rockerarm pipes.

FIG. 6 shows how the ends of the driving shafts are connected to toothedwheels in such a manner that the total force can be transferred togearbox and electric generator.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the wave force machine, including a suggestionas to the positioning of gearbox and electric generator.

FIGS. 8 a to 8 d show a rocker arm, including floats, fittings, rockerarm, shock absorber, strut for reinforcement rocker arm pipe, one-waybearings and driving shaft.

FIG. 9 shows a suggestion as to how several wave force machines may beinterconnected, seen from above.

FIG. 10 shows rocker arm pipes including oil canals, clipper seatprotection cover, one-way bearings and gasket between two bearings.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the centre of force, including force shafts,toothed wheels and declutching system,

FIG. 12 is a side view of force shaft with cardan and motor fordeclutching.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the centre of force of the three interconnectedwave force machines with declutchings.

FIG. 14 is a side view of rocker arm pipe, including rocker arm, balanceweight, one-way bearings, groove, clipper seal protection cover,separable rocker pipe, gasket, oil canal and holes for oil passage.

FIG. 15 shows a float.

FIG. 16 shows a float with blade profile.

FIG. 17 shows wave force machine seen form one end mounted with floatsmounted with blade profiles.

FIG. 18 shows rocker arm pipe with separable gear locking arms.

FIG. 19 shows wave force machines standing separately, forming a starand a hexagon.

FIG. 20 shows wave force machines connected to form a hexagon with areduced number of concrete pillars, gearboxes and electric generators.

FIG. 21 shows wave force machines connected as star points next to eachother in a long line.

FIG. 22 shows a rocker arm including float, rocker arm and arm withbalance weight.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the wave force machine, including float 1, strut2 for reinforcement, rocker arm 3, rocker arm pipe 4, wherein lockbearings are provided, balance weight 5, toothed wheel 6 interconnectingthe force from the force shafts in such a way that the total force fromthe force shafts 8 can be gathered in gearbox and electric generator 9,7 shows an ordinary bearing, wherein the force shaft runs. The drawingshows a wave force machine with 38 arms and four force shafts, but inprinciple the wave force machine may be connected to any number offloats, rocker arms and driving force shafts, and the floats 1 may inprinciple be designed in any manner.

FIG. 2 shows the wave force machine seen from one end, illustrating thehoist 11 with steel wire 13 and shock absorber 14. The electric hoistcan be activated from control box receiving information if the wind istoo strong, the waves too high, the water temperature too low or in thecase of any other predetermined activation, and thus raise rocker arms 3and floats 1 from the water, so that the wave machine stops and thus isnot destroyed. The toothed wheels 15 situated at the end of each drivingshaft are interconnected, so the total force can be transferred togearbox and electric generator.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wave force machine with hoist. In whichcontrol box 23 collects information from anemometer 31, sensor 24 airtemperatures sensor 25 temperature for heat in gearbox and electricgenerator, sensor 26 wave height and sensor 27 water temperature. If thecontrol box 23 receives a signal of a predetermined maximum setting,e.g. too high wind velocity, too low air temperature, too high waves,too low water temperature, too high temperature in the gearbox andelectric generator, or any other predetermined signal, the control boxwill pass a control signal on to the electric hoist, wherein electricmotor 28 is connected by tooth wheel 32 to the shaft 29 which willrotate and cause the wire 13 to wind onto the shaft 29, and the rockerarms 3 will be pulled out of the water and the wave force machine willstop and not be destroyed by waves too high or other predeterminednatural conditions.

FIG. 4 is a aide view of the wave force machine, wherein the forces aregathered in e.g. a star point with e.g. three wave force machines to agearbox and electric generator 1 encapsulated in a machine casing 10 andshown herein on a bedplate raisable by means of hydraulics. This systemmay be necessary if the wave force machine is set up in tidal areas.

FIG. 5. When the float attached to the rocker arm 3 is affected by awave, the rocker arm 3 will move upward and cause rocker arm pipe 4,one-way bearings 6 and the force shaft 8 to rotate. Free-wheeling occurswhen the rocker arm dives into the wave. Bracing 12 capable of receivingthe transverse forces from the rocker arm 3 reinforces the rocker arm 3.To prevent water from flowing into rocker arm pipe 4 and one-waybearings 6, 2 adjusting nylon washers with gasket 36 are mounted betweeneach rocker arm pipe 4.

FIGS. 6 a-d are front, side and top views of the shafts and toothedwheels of the wave force machine. The 2 front view drawings (FIGS. 6a-b) show how the force shafts 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, and 8 d are connected withtoothed wheels 15-22. The wave force machine is shown here with 4 forceshafts, but in principle it may be made up of any number of forceshafts, both horizontally and vertically. The total force may e.g. betaken out on a force shaft and fed into gearbox 34 and on to electricgenerator 9. When the wave hits the float, causing the rocker arm tomove upward, the various force shafts will rotate. And byinterconnecting them by means of toothed wheels, the total force may betaken out and utilized in the production of electric. FIG. 6 a shows thetop toothed wheel 15 which has a somewhat lower rotation than the bottomtoothed wheel 17 solved by means of a gearing. In, order to gather theforce of the top shaft 8 a and the bottom shaft 8 b, so that they rotatein the same direction, a toothed wheel 16 is provided between them. Thesame principle is applied to force shafts 8 c and 8 d. Force shafts 8 band 8 d are connected to the toothed wheels 18 and 22, and the totalforce is taken out on e.g. force shaft 8 d to gearbox and electricgenerator.

FIG. 7 shows how gearbox 34 and electric generator 9 are placed inwatertight machine casing 3. This is important in order to ensure thatnot toothed wheel, gearbox and electric generator are not destroyed bywater, which is intake by fresh air intake piece 40.

FIG. 8 shows float 1 with fittings 37 and strut 2 and rocker arm 3ending in rocker arm pipe 4 that is moved upward, when the wave hitsfloat 1, together with rocker arm 3, causing rocker arm pipe to rotatelock bearings 6 into a tight position and the driving shaft 8 to rotate.Free-wheeling occurs when float and rocker arm dive into the wave. Ifthe wave are too high, electric hoist and wire 13 are tightened andfloat and rocker are raised from the water, a shock absorber 14 beingprovided to relieve shock effects during raising and lowering.

FIG. 9 shows how several wave force machines may optionally beinterconnected. Shown herein as a star which is in turn connected toanother star. In principle, every wave force machine may be connected toform any combination. By connecting the machines in this manner, theentire system becomes less dependent on the direction of the waves. Atthe same time, reductions can be made with respect to gearbox, electricgenerator and concrete pillars. This renders the wave force machinesmore cost-effective.

FIG. 10 in order to make the spacing between each rocker pipe 4watertight, it is necessary to place clipper seal 36 between one-waybearings 6 and gasket between bearings 6 and on top of rocker arm pipe 4a protection cover 38 keeping out the water, the entire system now beingsealed off from intrusion of water. For cooling there are oil canals 39.

FIG. 11 where the force shafts are joined in centre of force, it isshown how each force shaft can be deducted, if e.g. a gearbox orelectric generator is to be repaired or something else happens thatnecessitates declutching. By means of a motor for declutching 43, theforce shaft 8 d may be removed from toothed wheel 44. When the forceshaft is to engage once again with toothed wheel 44, motor declutching43 it relieved, and spring 45 will ensure that the force shaft 8 d fallsinto place in toothed wheel 44, the entire system being protectedagainst water by a motor room 46.

FIG. 12 force shaft with cardan joint and declutching. Toothed wheel 47,sliding bush 4 and spring 45 are mounted over sliding grooves 49, motor43 providing for clutching and declutching. By means of the system, eachwave force machine may e.g. be declutched. In e.g. a large system withseveral gearboxes and electric generators, electric generators may bedeclutched as the waves diminish and the force from each individual waveforce machine decreases, in order to continue the production ofelectricity, but with a smaller number of electric generators.

FIG. 13 shows a star point, shown herein with e.g. 3 wave force machinesand 3 force shafts, cardan shafts 51-53, engaging with a common toothedwheel 44 capable of passing on the total force to gearbox and electricgenerator, everything being placed in a watertight machine casing 10.

FIG. 14 shows a rocker arm 3 with balance weight 5, including separablerocker pipe with protection cover 38, so that water cannot intrude. Thissystem provides the feature that if e.g. one bearing breaks, it is notnecessary to detach the entire driving shaft and the individual one-waybearings and rocker arms, but only to remove the defective rocker arm.

FIG. 15 shows a float utilizing the upward force from the wave in abetter and more efficient way.

FIG. 16 shows a float, shown herein as a pyramid, on which, in thiscase, 3 blade profiles are mounted, but in principle any number of bladeprofiles may be mounted thereto. When the wave passes the float, anexcess pressure will form above the blades, and this force will causethe float to move even more upward.

FIG. 17 shows the wave force machine provided with blade arms. Bladearms are intended to be used in waters with strong current, it coulde.g. be in Lillebelt, a river bed or any other area of water current.The blades 1′ function in the way that they can be turned upward ordownward. This is controlled by means of a computer programme, so blades1′ are moving either upward or downward all the time.

FIG. 18 shows rocker arm pipes 4 with gear locking arm 55. The advantageof using gear locking arms is that ordinary ball bearings can be used,said ball bearings being separable in both ends of the rocker arm pipe,and that everything is separable and replaceable in the case of defects.The gear bush is divided into two pieces held in place by means ofgroove and cotter 56. The gear locking arms 55 function in the way thatthe gear arms 55 are attached to the through-going force shaft 8 a. Whenthe rocker arms 3 start moving up and down, the gear arms engage withthe gears of the two-piece gear bush 57 immediately, causing the shaft 8a to start to rotate. The teeth of the gear arm are positioned closertogether than the teeth of the two-piece gear bush, providing a quickerfirm grip, everything being operated in grease, which means that nomaintenance is required.

FIG. 19 shows suggestions as to different ways of interconnecting thewave force machines. By e.g. interconnecting 3 wave force machines toform a star, it is rendered more independent from the direction fromwhere the waves are coming. At the same time a gearbox and electricgenerator may be placed in the star point. This is a reduction of 2gearboxes and electric generators, as opposed to each wave force machinebeing placed separately. At the same time the number of concrete pillarsmay be reduced. In the case of three separate wave force machines, 6concrete pillars are used. By placing them to form a star, this numbermay be reduced to 3 concrete pillars, providing considerablecast-savings. As shown at the bottom of FIG. 19, 12 wave force machinesmay also, as shown herein, be joined to be interconnected, and the forceis transferred to the 3 gearboxes 34 an on to electric generator 9. Only12 concrete pillars are required in this shown situation. But inprinciple the wave force machines may be interconnected in any war andby use of any number of concrete pillars, gearboxes and electricgenerators.

FIG. 20 shows 12 wave force machines having 9 concrete pillars 30, 3gearboxes 34 and 3 electric generators 9, resulting in a furtherreduction of concrete pillars and thus providing cast-savings and morecost-effective production machinery. But in principle the wave forcemachine can be interconnected to form any combination.

FIG. 21 shows another way of interconnecting the wave force machines.But in principle they can be interconnected to form any conceivablecombination.

FIG. 22 shows a rocker arm with float, rocker arm and arm with balanceweight for balancing the weight on the float side, as the upward forceincreases and is utilized in a better way.

1. A wave force machine capable of utilising the upward force from thewaves on a plurality of adjacent floats, wherein the upward force oneach float via rocker arm, bearings and free-wheeling means istransferred to driving force shaft for transferring the moment to thedriving force shaft, wherein the bearings are enclosed between rockerarm pipes and the driving force shaft, and the bearings are displaced ina longitudinal direction of the driving force shaft from the positionnormal to the float.
 2. A wave force machine according to claim 1,wherein the bearings are displaced as much as possible with respect toadjacent rocker arm pipes.
 3. A wave force machine according to claim 1,wherein the rocker arms each has two bracing arms attached to the rockerarm pipe, the bracing arms being attached near the longitudinal positionof the bearings.
 4. A wave force machine according to claim 1, whereinthe plurality of rocker arm pipes constitute a substantially closed tubeenclosing the driving force shaft.
 5. A wave force machine according toclaim 1, wherein each rocker arm is connected to a separate rocker armpipe.
 6. A wave force machine according to claim 1, wherein one or moregear locking arms is/are provided within each rocker arm pipe, each gearlocking arm being attached to driving force shaft, the gear locking armsengage with gear bush attached in rocker arm pipe by means of groovewith cotters.
 7. A wave force machine according to claim 1, comprisingtwo parallel driving force shafts having floats extending to oppositesides of the machine.
 8. A wave force machine according to claim 1,wherein each float is a round buoy with a conical hopper.
 9. A waveforce machine capable of utilising the upward force from the waves on aplurality of adjacent floats, wherein the upward force on each float viarocker arm, bearings and free-wheeling means is transferred to drivingforce shaft for transferring the moment to the driving force shaft,wherein a first group of floats is arranged at a first normal distancefrom a first driving force shaft and a second group of floats isarranged at a second normal distance from a second driving force shaft,the first normal distance being different from the second normaldistance.
 10. A wave force machine according to claim 9, wherein thefirst and the second shaft are in driving engagement via an intermediateengagement wheel.
 11. A wave force machine according to claim 9, whereina gearing between the first and the second shaft is adapted for thedifference in normal distance for the group of floats.
 12. A wave forcemachine according to claim 9, wherein the second driving force shaft isparallel to the first driving force shaft and the second group of floatsextends to the same side as the first group of floats.
 13. A wave forcemachine according to claim 9, comprising two parallel first drivingforce shafts having floats extending to opposite sides of the machineand two parallel second driving force shafts having floats extending toopposite sides of the machine.
 14. A wave force machine according toclaim 9, comprising two parallel driving force shafts having floatsextending to opposite sides of the machine.
 15. A wave force machineaccording to claim 9, wherein each float is a round buoy with a conicalhopper.
 16. A wave force machine capable of utilising the upward forcefrom the waves on a plurality of adjacent floats, wherein the upwardforce on each float via rocker arm, bearings and free-wheeling means istransferred to driving force shaft for transferring the moment to thedriving force shaft, comprising balance weights connected to the rockerarms for partly outbalancing the force of gravity on the float and therocker arm.
 17. A wave force machine according to claim 16, furthercomprising hoist means for raising the rocker arms.
 18. A wave forcemachine according to claim 17, wherein the hoist means acts via a wireand a shock absorber attached to each rocker arm.
 19. A wave forcemachine according to claim 17, and comprising a control box forcontrolling the hoist, said control box including anemometer, sensor forair temperature sensor for gearbox temperature and electric generator,sensor for wave height and sensor for water temperature.
 20. A waveforce machine according to claim 16, comprising two parallel drivingforce shafts having floats extending to opposite sides of the machine.21. A wave force machine according to claim 16, wherein each float is around buoy with a conical hopper.
 22. A system of at least three waveforce machines according to claim 1 or 9 or 16, the wave force machineshaving different orientation, wherein the wave force machines areinterconnected to form a star, a hexagon or any other combination.
 23. Asystem according to claim 22, wherein the wave force machines havingcommon means for utilizing the force from the waves.